Courtesy: Miami University AthleticsOXFORD, Ohio - After opening the season with four games on the road, all against teams currently ranked in the top-25, the Miami University field hockey team finally gets a chance to open its home season on Saturday. The RedHawks will host Longwood at 11 a.m. On Sunday, Miami hits the road once again to take on 23rd-ranked Ohio State at 1 p.m.
"Traveling is always fun, but it's nice to play on your own turf and have more of your fans," said sophomore forward Shannon Regan.
Fans attending Saturday's game should note that due to the football game, there will be a charge for parking and that all fans will need to park in the West Millett parking lot.
The RedHawks dropped a pair of games in East Lansing, Mich. last weekend. Miami fell to then 11th-ranked Stanford, 3-0, on Saturday, before dropping a heartbreaking, 1-0, decision to host Michigan State on Sunday. The Red and White missed an opportunity to tie in the last seconds of the match when its penalty corner attempt was turned away.
Longwood is 0-5 on the season. In their last game, the Lancers fell to local rival VCU, 2-1, in overtime on Wednesday. Jennifer Burris and Jessica Diaz have each scored two goals on the season for Longwood.
"It's good to be home finally," said head coach Iñako Puzo. "We had to wait till the third week of the season to get here. We have to play Longwood, which is a great team, very competitive. We hope to come up with a win, but again, we have to bring our 'A' game against the Lancers."
Ohio State is 2-2 on the season. After shutting out 25th-ranked American, 2-0, last Friday, the Buckeyes fell to top-ranked Maryland, 5-0, on Sunday. Senior forward Danica Deckard has recorded all four goals that Ohio State has scored this season.
"We love to play against Ohio State and the other Big Ten teams," said Puzo. It's a special game for everybody. We are playing the big team in the state of Ohio; it is going to be another challenge for this team."
The challenging non-conference schedule for Miami continues next weekend. On Saturday, Sept. 15, the RedHawks travel to Charlottesville to take on sixth-ranked Virginia at 11 a.m. The next day, Miami will head to Williamsburg to take on William & Mary at noon.
